Still perfect for the system - Why Arsenal should rekindle interest in Houssem Aouar to maximize budget in the summer

Arsenal have been long term admirer of the Lyon midfielder and as the summer approaches, it is suggested that the Gunners should reignite their interest in the midfielder, who can very well complement their positions of wanting, and those where they need back up.

Credits: Getty

It is no more news that should Arsenal finish in the top four and secure Champions League football next season, there will be need to increase the depth of the squad as a lot of players will be shown the exit door at the expiration of their contracts in the summer.

The Gunners, currently placed fourth on the Premier League log have relied mostly on the duo of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka to do the magic in the middle of the park and the contributions of the two has been crucial as that of any other player in the ranks at the club.

Mikel Arteta side dropped a lot of points when the two or either was not available as back up options in the likes of Albert Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny are not that capable of shielding the defence as much as the former duo.

And in the summer, the Gunners will be on the look out for incomings to add to the strength and depth in the midfield department and Houssem Aouar again is back in the list of players the club should be going for.

The Frenchman, who can play in multiple positions across the midfield will be a very good addition given his talent and technicality. His versatility in the middle of the park will make him an option in the place of Martin Ødegaard, giving competition to the Norwegian and also doing the job of a central midfielder when required.

Nonetheless the Gunners should also look to sign a natural central midfielder, who will pose direct threat to the duo of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka as the multiple competitions that will be available to play next season will ask so much question of the squad depth.

Houssem Aouar’s arrival will however mean the Gunners have backup option for multiple positions while another central midfielder will allow Mikel Arteta rotate his options in the midfield, and not having to worry about dip in quality when one of the players is absent due to reasons there might be.

Photo by ALEX MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images

This season, Arsenal have struggled for this reason mostly in the middle of the park and even it is a situation that still make the Gunners really nervous for the remainder of the season as their hopes for a top four finish can be said to be attached to the availability of the duo of Partey and Xhaka for the remaining games.

Mikel Arteta is a long term admirer of Aouar and the transition at the club in the last eight months or so will convince the midfielder more of the project at the club after the Gunners failed in their bid to bring him to the Emirates in the summer of 2020.

Aouar has continued his fine form from the season he started to catch the eye of European giants and a move to the Emirates will surely be a step up in the career of the 23-year-old while at the same time he fulfils the right profile of a player Mikel Arteta will prefer in his squad.

For Aouar, playing for the Gunners will also boost his chances of representing the French National Team as a lot of players has benefitted from the resurgence of the club. The Gunners now have almost all of their first team players representing their respective countries on the international level.

Without a doubt the summer will be a busy one for the Gunners and Mikel Arteta has to consider Houssem Aouar amongst his other options as not only is he the right profile for a team looking like Arsenal but he satisfies the positions where Arsenal need to fill and offers a lot more.

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi